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Article, 5G, Edge computing, AI, Digital twins, IoT, Mixed reality, Big Data
• 5G and Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) can supercharge groundbreaking technologies to transform APAC industries by enhancing business models, operational efficiency, and user experiences.
● Artificial intelligence (AI) in APAC is rapidly advancing, finding applications in automation, healthcare, customer service, and more. Integrating 5G and MEC can significantly boost this technology's efficiency and performance for enterprises.
● Extended reality (XR), digital twins, and the Internet of Things (IoT) can redefine customer interactions and organisational workflows in healthcare, retail, and entertainment sectors. Backed by 5G and MEC, these technologies promise a future of immersive experiences.
● 5G and MEC can amplify AI and Big Data analytics, enabling enterprises to focus on data-driven decision-making and service enhancement.
● APAC's swift digital transformation, powered by the integration of 5G and MEC, opens a panorama of opportunities and challenges. Industries exploiting AI, digital twins, XR, Big Data, and IoT must tap expertise in cybersecurity, data management, and infrastructure development.
Digital transformation technologies are unlocking fresh opportunities and fueling innovation for businesses. But even if you’re keen to adopt artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and mixed reality (MR), your digital environment might not be ready. These technologies are hungry for data and constant connectivity, requiring workload capacities that traditional networks can’t fulfil.
Breakthroughs in 5G technology and Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) can help you overcome these barriers. Many industries are exploring the use of 5G in their operations, and for good reason. While 5G standalone (SA) technology is a game-changer with its speed and low latency, it becomes a powerful catalyst of industrial revolution when you combine it with MEC. By 2035, the intelligent connectivity enabled by 5G could generate $13.2 trillion of global economic value.1
If 5G speeds up data processing through low latency and high bandwidth, MEC does it by enabling data processing on the “edge,” where data originates. This eases server platform workloads and makes data processing more efficient.
By enabling new use cases, the 5G-MEC combination paves the way for enterprises to create new services and business models. Take healthcare as an example. Imagine a patient wearing an IoT device that continuously records data like heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. The device processes data on the edge, showing the wearer immediate updates on a screen. Instead of overwhelming the healthcare system with continuous data streams, the device only sends data to the healthcare provider or emergency responder when it detects an irregularity. If the patient lives in a rural or remote area, 5G can be a lifesaver by enabling real-time data transmission.2
The development and commercialisation of connected vehicles (CVs) will also require ubiquitous 5G and MEC. CVs can share data with other devices both inside and outside the vehicle using 5G and MEC. External devices can range from traffic lights, road sensors, and parking metres, to other cars and even cloud-based servers that aggregate traffic data.
Car makers are empowered to use real-time data to boost road safety and optimise routes for customers. Infotainment systems in vehicles can process data instantly, updating traffic conditions and directions, deciding when and where to engage the brake, and streaming content tailored to the passenger’s preferences.
The 5G-MEC synergy shortens the innovation curve by enabling breakthrough technologies, such as:
Leverage 5G and MEC to enable real-time data and deep learning insights; support on-demand network slicing; enrich customer experiences with data-driven immersive technologies; and adopt innovative devices such as drones, robots, and smart vehicles.
APAC businesses are sprinting ahead with the adoption of AI and ML-driven solutions — adoption rates skyrocketed from 39% in 2021-2022 to 76% in 2023.3 Additionally, Southeast Asian companies plan to boost their AI/ML investment by 67% in 2023 compared to the previous year.4
But without the support of 5G+MEC, AI and ML solutions may not reach their full potential, as they need massive amounts of data and instantaneous processing to work well.
In the manufacturing sector, for instance, Singaporean researchers are using AI to tackle the challenges of developing farmed meat and seafood.5 This process does not require animal farming or slaughtering, and it helps solve food shortage and ethical concerns associated with traditional meat production.
The researchers use AI and machine learning to scan scientific databases and speed up the process of determining the best mixtures (called media formulations) that feed and grow cells. This process makes lab-based meat production easier to scale and commercialise.
Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical systems. They act as a digital testing ground where you can try out new processes, evaluate potential outcomes, and identify inefficiencies without any real-world constraints.6
Say an aviation manufacturer uses digital twins for aircraft engines. The company can simulate engine performance and test the engine virtually before constructing the actual thing. This approach refines designs, detects issues early on, and informs decisions without the expenses and time delays of real-world tests.
Using 5G+MEC, these simulations can process vast data volumes rapidly, providing immediate feedback and allowing precise tweaks. This speeds up design and development cycles and supports remote operations and decisions. Seamless data flow is crucial to achieving these results, making 5G and MEC pivotal as they support the efficient transfer of vast volumes of data in real time.
For example, Singtel launched Singapore's first 5G-enabled smart retail showcase. Within this environment, AR/VR in a 5G setting enables retailers to develop immersive virtual shopping experiences resembling their physical outlets, allowing shoppers to virtually try products, explore store layouts, and access enhanced product information.
By creating virtual versions of their workflows, retailers can gain better visibility into process bottlenecks and simulate scenarios like how a redesigned store layout might alter customer shopping patterns.
AETOS, a Singapore-based security solutions provider, established a 5G Integrated Command Centre (ICC) that featured digital twins of its premises and clients’ premises for real-time situational monitoring and decision-making. It integrated Singtel's 5G Paragon platform and MEC technology to visualise security deployment strategies and response times. As a result, AETOS boosted productivity by 20% and reduced their manpower needs by half.
Businesses increasingly recognise the value of this technology. The APAC digital twin market is expected to grow 35% from 2020 to 2026.7
The convergence of virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) form XR technology, offering transformative solutions across various sectors.
In retail, for instance, customers can now shop and interact with products virtually. XR also offers realistic simulations and more immersive experiences that take education and education to a new level. Likewise, in healthcare, patients can now receive virtual consultations and tourists can virtually explore destinations without leaving their homes.
In 2022, the major sectors investing in AR/VR tech accounted for over 66% of the total APAC spending in AR/VR tech. Experts predict that by 2026, AR/VR spending in the APAC region will reach an impressive USD 14.8 billion.8
Edge computing powers XR tech by processing data closer to the user's location. This closer processing cuts down latency, making AR/VR visuals render seamlessly in real time. As a result, users experience virtual shopping or gaming that feel incredibly lifelike and responsive.
A Singtel trial at the National University Health System (NUHS) demonstrated how AR/VR technology on a 5G network could accelerate the delivery of ultrasound scan results. In this collaboration, Singtel and Microsoft used a wireless ultrasound probe and an AR visor.
Singtel streamed the captured images to powerful computers, instantaneously presenting scan results on a Microsoft HoloLens 2 headset. This use case offers immediate diagnoses, aids surgical planning, assists patient education, and enables accurate vein tracing to considerably enhance remote patient care.
Comfortable and impactful user experiences hinge heavily on 5G and MEC. The ultra-low latency and high bandwidth of 5G networks guarantee secure and stable data transmission. Additionally, the shift to edge computing renders images closer to the end user, which significantly enhances AR/VR experiences.
Consumers may feel this benefit most immediately in retail. Online and physical retailers can enhance customer experiences through AR, VR, and mixed reality by bringing the concept of "try before you buy" to life. Apps like IKEA Place let customers virtually place 3D furniture models in their homes or workspaces and browse products using a mobile VR headset. 5G's reduced latency and increased bandwidth improve content quality and minimise delays to make these immersive shopping experiences more compelling and feasible.
Enterprises are using big data and analytics to mine meaningful insights from their extensive and complex datasets. APAC spending in big data and analytics is set to reach USD42.2 billion by the end of 2023 and USD70.7 billion by 2026.9
Meanwhile, the focus is shifting towards data sovereignty, with privacy, risk management, and business resilience taking centre stage. Companies can use 5G and MEC to fortify these areas, adopting enhanced security measures such as network slicing and AI-driven cybersecurity protections.
Within this broader trend, the banking sector is making a significant impact. Accounting for over 35% of the revenue of the global Big Data market in 2023, traditional banks are accelerating their efforts to match the level of service provided by digital-first financial institutions.9 In the past year, APAC banks have refreshed outdated systems and introduced services like instant loans based on real-time data analysis.10
Retail companies can also leverage big data to analyse online shopping patterns, forecast customer preferences, align stock with past demand data, and tailor marketing communications based on a shopper's previous brand interactions.
But big data comes with its own set of challenges. Assuring data quality and integration, and building the right infrastructure, are key concerns. Trusting your cloud service providers becomes essential for managing security issues.
To overcome these hurdles, robust data integration, strong security layers, and dependable connectivity are essential. Enterprises can set up their own private networks using 5G, ensuring data stays within a controlled environment and minimising exposure to external threats. They can create dedicated network slices for specific tasks or departments to enable sensitive data to traverse its own isolated slice.
APAC businesses are actively adopting the Internet of Things (IoT), driven by factors such as increasing internet penetration, the adoption of cloud-based services, and government initiatives promoting digitalisation.11 The APAC industrial IoT market was valued at USD 23,678.9 million in 2021, and it is expected to reach USD 46,188 million by 2030.12
The manufacturing and logistics sectors are building future-ready factories. For instance, Zuellig Pharma is making strides towards constructing a fully connected warehouse by harnessing the power of connected devices. With Singtel's assistance, the company leveraged automation and 5G to enhance both picking and inventory counting processes.
To complement this, MEC can cut down the time taken to transmit and receive data by processing data at the source. This allows machinery and systems to react instantly. Factory teams can respond quickly should there be any equipment malfunctions or inefficiencies that need immediate attention.
The healthcare sector also adopts IoT to gather and process extensive data for improved patient outcomes. Whether the IoT device is a wearable monitor, smart bed, or connected medical instrument, doctors can access data analysed on-site to provide real-time diagnosis or respond to patient alerts quickly. Leveraging this technology, institutions like SingHealth can manage vast amounts of data to personalise care and facilitate early risk prediction.
The success of IoT in healthcare also relies on balancing advancements with robust cybersecurity measures. 5G and MEC play a pivotal role here by ensuring data transmits securely. 5G introduces features like network slicing, allowing for dedicated, secure channels for sensitive medical data. MEC, by processing data at the edge, reduces the exposure of patient data across wide networks, potentially limiting vulnerability to breaches.
5G+MEC deployment is different across various technological maturity levels in enterprises. Companies must navigate challenges such as operational complexity, digital transformation, interoperability issues, connectivity challenges, cybersecurity threats, and expertise shortage.
By forming strategic partnerships with partners like Singtel, you can gain an advantage in this interconnected landscape. Singtel offers an all-in-one platform for 5G and MEC, co-creating new services and business models with global enterprises. We recently partnered with Microsoft to make Azure's public MEC available for all enterprises. With 5G, businesses can speed up the adoption of new technologies like edge computing and AI.
In 2022, we also partnered with Intel to launch a 5G MEC incubator to help businesses transition to a 5G network, launch fast-response applications, and accelerate their digital transformation.
Singtel has cross-region, MEC capabilities and provides a comprehensive 5G stack, including infrastructure, network, and platform-as-a-service. Talk to us if you want to learn more about how to digitally transform your business with 5G and edge computing.
References:
1. World Economic Forum, The Impact of 5G: Creating New Value across Industries and Society, 2020.
2. LinkedIn, 5G and Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) is Transforming Emergency Response, 2020.
3. CDO Trends, Southeast Asia Sees Massive Jump in AI Adoption, 2023.
4. Statista, Leading uses of artificial intelligence and machine learning for cyber security at companies in the Asia-Pacific region in 2022, 2022.
5. Open Gov, Singapore: Using an AI/ML Approach to Meat and Seafood Production, 2022.
6. Intelligent CIO, Unlocking the digital twin advantage, 2022.
7. Graphical Research, Asia Pacific Digital Twin Market Forecast 2026 By End-use, 2021.
8. Techwire Asia, AR/VR technology spending in APAC to teach US$14-8 billion, 2022.
9. IDC, Big Data and Analytics Spending in Asia/Pacific* to Reach $42.2 Billion in 2023, $70.7 Billion by 2026, 2023.
10. Fintech Malaysia, APAC Financial Institutions Struggle to Make Use of Their Data in a Timely and Effective Manner, 2022.
11. Future IoT, APAC firms will acquire digital twin capabilities for resilient decision making, 2021.
12. Business Wire, Asia Pacific Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Market Report 2022: Components, Connectivity, End User Estimation & Forecasts, 2017-2030, 2022.
Get the latest digest on business and technology trends straight to your inbox.
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